India, Hindustan or Bharat all signify that this great country is a land of great heritage and diversity, which extends as religious diversity with Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains- all calling the country home. Off late, the integrity of our diversified nation is put to test by people of divisive mindset. The Bench of Honorable Supreme Court presided over by Honorable Justice Mukesh Shah and Honorable Justice Hima Kohli asked the Government of India to file an affidavit on the issue of forcible religious conversions in India, terming this as a very serious issue involving national security in the Petition preferred by Advocate and renowned BJP leader, Ashiwini Kumar Upadhyay.
The Honorable Court has also observed that religious conversions by means of force, allurement or fraud may “ultimately affect the security of the nation and freedom of religion and conscience of citizens”. Recent times are witness to the notorious re-emergence of the issue of forceful religious conversions. It is noteworthy that changing religion in India is a tedious and time consuming process involving numerous steps and varies from Religion to which one intends to convert to. The Constitution of India under Article 25 guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens, including the right to change one's religion, thus no law restricts religious conversions in India apart from social barriers. It is often observed that the issue of religious conversion is surrounded by tremendous controversies as majority of conversions evidently are Hindus converting to Christianity or Islam. In general, there have been reports of forced conversions which have been stopped from happening by various religious groups which at times have become violent.
This story is from the November 27, 2022 edition of Organiser Weekly.
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This story is from the November 27, 2022 edition of Organiser Weekly.
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GOING INTO ELECTION MODE
AS KARNATAKA IS ALL SET FOR LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN MAY THIS YEAR, FACTORS LIKE THE DEMAND FOR RESERVATION, ANTI-INCUMBENCY AND VARIOUS OTHER CONTROVERSIES WILL MAKE THIS ELECTION QUITE INTERESTING
ISLAMIC NATION AT A CROSSROADS
AMID POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND MILITARY INTERVENTION, PAKISTAN IS GRIPPED BY ECONOMIC CRISIS WHICH IS FURTHER DETERIORATING: IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW THIS ISLAMIC NATION OVERCOMES THE SITUATION
A GAME-CHANGER FOR INDIAN ECONOMY
THE DISCOVERY OF 5.9 MILLION TONNES OF LITHIUM DEPOSITS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR WILL CHANGE INDIA’S FORTUNE AND ITS JOURNEY TOWARDS SELF-RELIANCE IN ENERGY. IT WILL ALSO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE COUNTRY’S EV SECTOR
REVIVALISM FOR TRANSFORMATION
SWAMI DAYANAND SARASWATI, A REMARKABLE EDUCATIONIST AND REFORMER, PLAYED A SEMINAL ROLE IN REMOVING ORTHODOXY AND OTHER SOCIAL ILLS PLAGUING THE HINDU SOCIETY. HE ALSO MADE EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
'PM MODI'S POLICIES BEHIND BJP'S ENTRY IN NAGALAND'
The entire North East is witnessing a change since the Modi Government came into office in 2014.
RESOLVE TO RECLAIM OUR TERRITORY
FEBRUARY 22 IS MARKED AS THE SANKALP DIWAS RESOLUTION DAY). IT REMINDS US OF THE RESOLVE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN PARLIAMENT, TOOK TO RECLAIM THE TERRITORIES THAT WERE OCCUPIED THROUGH AGGRESSION IN 1948
WHAT'S COOKING?
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS NOT KNOWN TO OFTEN MEET FOREIGN LEADERS BELOW THE RANK OF HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, EVEN FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE RARELY GIVEN AUDIENCE. SO WHEN HE HAD AN HOUR-LONG TETE-A-TETE WITH INDIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR AJIT DOVAL IN MOSCOW RECENTLY, IT CAUGHT THE WORLD’S ATTENTION
A WAY TO DELIVER JUSTICE
WHEN OUR CONSTITUTION MAKERS PROVIDED RESERVATION BENEFITS TO THE SCHEDULED TRIBES, THEY WANTED TO SAFEGUARD THE TRIBAL POPULATION WHILE ENSURING AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PROGRESS. UNFORTUNATELY, RAMPANT CONVERSION HAS CREATED A SITUATION WHERE THE CONVERTS ARE AVAILING DOUBLE BENEFITS WHEREAS TRIBALS WHO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THEIR FAITH ARE DEPRIVED OF THE OPPORTUNITIES MEANT FOR THEM
LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE
THE ISSUE OF DELISTING IS BEING RAISED SINCE MANY DECADES. EVEN ATTEMPTS WERE MADE IN PARLIAMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO DELIVER JUSTICE TO THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY. THIS MATTER IS ALSO BEING HEARD IN VARIOUS COURTS
JUSTICE FOR JANJATI COMMUNITY
THE 'JANJATI GARJANA DELISTING RALLY' WAS ORGANISED IN BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH ON 10 FEBRUARY. THE RALLY WAS ATTENDED BY EMINENT PERSONALITIES FROM THE COMMUNITY. NOTABLY, SUCH RALLIES ARE BEING IN ORGANISED CONTINUOUSLY IN STATES WHICH HAVE SIGNIFICANT TRIBAL POPULATION SUCH AS MADHYA PRADESH, CHHATTISGARH, ARUNACHAL PRADESH AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NORTH EAST
